TT PREVIEW

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

With the dawn of the new National League South almost upon us, I have been gathering thoughts from fellow NLS supporters with their opinions on how their summer has gone and their expectations for the season.

Many thanks to all those who have assisted in this article. If you are a supporter of a fellow NLS team and would like to assist TorquayTalk with previews and articles this season, please do let us know!

AFC Totton – The Stags Voice (@StagsVoice)

Summer Recruitment:

Steady. We have a couple of new additions following trials so we are looking forward to seeing how they all develop.

Pre-Season Review:

Pre-season went well, only lost once and we managed to put in some solid performances.

Expectations for the season:

We are hoping to be hovering around where we were last season.

Predicted league finish:

12th.

Chesham United – Giles Stevenson (@Chiltern79)

Summer Recruitment:

Two strikers Craig Fasanmade & Hisham Kashmiri, both having played national league south before giving new options up front.

Right wing back Lordon Akolbire has come in to replace Josh Addae who has gone to Dagenham

We also have signed two centre backs which have added to challenge for places in the form of Harry Hoath & Jospeh Adewunmi, both having played step 3 football last season. Most of the squad that ended the season have been retained.

Pre-Season Review:

All pre-season games have been played away from home due to extensive work carried out on the pitch at the Meadow, which has been levelled, old drainage replaced and sprinkler system installed. Most of the pre-season has seen trialists been looked at against step 3 sides and ended with a 1-0 victory at Oxford City having also played at new step 2 side Harborough Town

Expectations for the season:

Be challenging in every game as we have for the past two seasons and will be interesting to see how we play on the new looking pitch, which the first game on it, is not until 22nd August. It is disappointing that both games v Torquay will be on Tuesday nights this season.

Predicted league finish:

10th – up one place on last season

Dagenham & Redbridge – Joel Page (@JoelPage_11)

Summer Recruitment:

Extensive, with sixteen new additions and counting. Though there’s not quite been the marquee headline names of last year, we’ve made some really top captures in particularly Harry Beautyman and Archie Tamplin, who is one of many to have really impressed at this level alongside the likes of Nathan Ashmore, Liam Vincent, Kane Crichlow, Samuel Adenola plus a few others. Crucially, the squad building has felt measured and tailored to a blueprint which brought new manager Lee Allinson success at Hemel. It looks a much more carefully-constructed squad on paper.

Pre-Season Review:

Largely decent, in so far as you can assess pre-season, although the more challenging final two tests against Boreham Wood then South Shields would have exposed the things we need to improve upon a lot more. In the previous games, we’d been reasonably prolific while conceding not many. The most encouraging takeaway has been the visible building of the principles Allinson vowed to instil – hunger, fitness, getting after teams. It’s one thing showcasing that against primarily lesser opposition in the summer though, we all know the real proof will be in the pudding from August 8th.

Expectations for the season:

With KSI and Tony Fernandes part of an ownership group now settled through the door, we clearly have high hopes, which obviously have to start with getting out of this division. However, after vocally declaring the same aspirations last summer only to finish a pathetic 13th, discourse has been a lot more tempered this time around. Quietly optimistic, though, we certainly are. Foundations are far stronger, while we seem to have a more suitable manager and well-balanced squad, so I do think we can be near the top as should be an absolute bare minimum for us in the NLS.

Predicted league finish:

3rd

Dorking Wanderers – James Lampard (@JLamps79)

Summer recruitment:

An unusually busy summer as Marc prepares for what he’s calling a new version of wanderers as lots of old favourites have left. New players in George Nikaj, Jack Wood, Glenn Morris, Charlie Sayers, Josh Barrett and now Harry Forster and the returning Isaac Philpott. Taken some time for these lads to bed in and probably still hasn’t happened.

Pre-Season Review:

Well pre-season hasn’t been wonderful in honesty. In terms of suffering injuries nothing untoward or new but still carrying some from last season into now which is not brilliant. Some sluggish performances – and the usual heavy rotation of academy players has meant pre-season has really all been about minutes and gelling new players.

Expectations for the season:

Expect perhaps a slow start and then to hopefully be somewhere around October time. We’ve seen sides put runs together and come from nowhere but I don’t think we will come racing out the traps but expecting us to be there or there abouts as usual! Expecting perhaps/hopefully a cup run.

Predicted league finish:

Well heart says top but head says playoff winners this season.

Farnborough FC – Simon Watson (@SouthThing2023)

Summer Recruitment:

This summer the recruitment policy has changed from our usual bringing in of young mainly untried and untested players to more experienced former National League ones and some former League players, with a mix of younger players from step 3 with a number of games under their belt already.

In summary, the squad looks good this pre-season, more togetherness and 18/19 rather than 15/16 as in previous seasons.

Pre-Season Review:

Results in pre-season have been mixed, with some decent 45 mins performances and also some average ones. This comes with having a much changed squad having only retained 3 players from last season. Only one bad injury to Josh Parker though, which could have been worse.

Expectations for the season:

Needs to be better than last season of course. We must start well and get some results early. Home form will be key to get our crowds up.

Expectation was 20th until mid-July but having seen the side build through the summer a mid-table finish looks achievable.

Predicted league finish:

12th

Hampton & Richmond Borough – Tommy Rance (@TRHamptonFC)

Summer Recruitment:

Has been very positive, signed a good blend of youth and experience, even if we are an Aldershot Town tribute act! Widdrington in midfield is a good acquisition, with fonguck, De Haviland at the back is good news and a good goalkeeper in Pat Nash.

Pre-Season Review:

With Raynes Park still to play we’ve had a positive pre-season with results, and even travelling as far as Newcastle for a game away at Dunston. A few wins and draws are good, and the squad looks seemingly unscathed going through this period which is good.

Expectations for the season:

We have to be more consistent than last season, and although safe with 2 games to go I wouldn’t mind a bottom half to mid-table finish. The league is tougher and tougher each season but every year we find ourselves in it has to be a success.

Predicted league finish:

The optimist in me says 11th, but I’d always take 20th!

I’ll go with 16th.

Hemel Hempstead Town – Louie (@tudorarmyfan)

Summer Recruitment:

An honest summary of our recruitment would be cheap but hopeful. We are struggling financially very much this year. One of the lowest budgets in the league. We had had to deal with that and sign young promising players from levels below.

Pre-Season Review:

Pre-season has honestly been what I expected. I am certainly not confident going into next week’s opener. Our pre-season we have looked very disjointed. As much as results do not matter our only wins have come against Hendon and Kettering. Even them being far from perfect performances.

Expectations for this season:

Tough one as I hate predicting us to not do great. However I cannot see us matching last season or anywhere near as close as that. I guess that then makes it a not great season? We will be safe but not up there with the big boys. Mid-table I will be happy with.

Predicted league finish:

15th

Horsham – Lardy Army (@LardyArmy)

Summer Recruitment:

Yes it’s looking pretty good. Nadesan has lots of higher level experience, Yila is very experienced at the level below, Archy Taylor at fullback looks lively, Da Silva looks good too but not played much pre-season. We are also very pleased to sign the vast majority of last season’s stalwarts.

Pre-Season Review:

Overall it’s been fairly promising. Aside Sutton and Worthing away where the scores were harsh on how we performed we have shown some very positive signs. Sadly, a bad injury to one of our stars Lucas Rodrugues was a big negative.

Season Expectations:

To be honest, we punched way above our weight last season and we will have to again to survive in the division. We need another good start and it’s possible but without it we will have a tough season, but regardless we are loving it under Dom. (Our longest serving (non owner or related) manager in the top 8 levels of the pyramid of 11+ years.

Predicted league finish:

16th

Maidstone United – Nigel Seager (@SeagerNigel)

Summer Recruitment:

Once again as in previous seasons we’ve had a lot of player movement. Although we’ve replaced the out goings with real talent. Players like Ken Charles, Alfie Tuck and Frankie Hvid should get us competitive. We have also looked to promote some of the under 23s where there is some genuine talent.

Pre-Season Review:

Probably the best in the club’s history 7 wins from 7, 27 goals scored and 4 conceded. As we all know that doesn’t mean anything if we don’t turn up in our first league game v Farnborough.

Expectations for the season:

I see no reason why we can’t be in the mix again for promotion. Craig has already said he will utilise the loan market once the EFL window closes. Hopefully the incoming players will provide the X factor to an already strong squad.

Predicted league finish:

A conservative 4th. I think we’ll surprise a few this season

Slough Town – Max Roscoe (@MaxRoscoe8)

Summer Recruitment:

Summer signings were always going to be a big talking point this year along with who would take the reins from Scott Davies. The Club chose the next manager would be Alan Julian, a heavily experienced GK and last seen in the dugout at Hampton. Whilst the manager has changed recruitment has stayed similar signing younger player from further down the pyramid whilst retaining quite a few from last year including the likes of Johnny Goddard, Henry Ochieng and Jaiden Drakes-Thomas.

Pre-Season Review:

It took Slough 4 games to record the first victory of pre-season, and in my opinion we only started to see the quality in the last 2 games against Oxford City a 2-1 victory and Wealdstone despite losing 2-0 to the FA Trophy runners up. Slough have had many injuries through pre-season which must be frustrating for the manager.

Expectations:

It’s hard to have any expectations with so much change at the club on and off the pitch, staying up is a must and anywhere above the dotted line is a success whilst the club are still building off the pitch, I’d love a cup run and if we could get to the 3rd Round proper then that would be a dream but we need a good start and get over the line as early as possible.

Predicted league finish:

It’s hard not to think your team will finish higher up the table but I can’t see us finishing anywhere near the playoffs or mid table and in that case, I’m putting the Rebels in a final league position of 18th.

Truro City – Scott

Summer Recruitment:

Recruitment has been on the quieter side this off season in comparison to the scramble for new faces for the maiden NL season last year.

The message is clear – consistency and youth. 5 in but none older than 23 including ex Bristol Rovers striker Harvey Greenslade, former Burnley and Welsh u21 international Tom Tweedy and former Cagliari defender Ben Nunn.

Pre-Season Review:

Pre-season has been larger positive with the two eye catching friendlies ending in a 1-0 victory against Exeter city and a 1-0 defeat against Argyle.

Season Expectations:

Truro will be expected to challenge for an immediate return to NL however the bookies have us at 14 or 16-1 for a reason – the ship needs to be steadied after a chastening season in the level above so a playoff spot seems about right.

Predicted league finish:

Heart says top, head says 4th.

Torquay United (@TommyKTUFC)

Summer Recruitment:

Very promising on paper. Everyone was absolutely delighted with the permeant signing of Deon Moore after his end of season performances & the signing of Issac Westendorf brings us that extra physicality that we’ve been lacking as well as a turn of pace.

Jimmy has also brought in experience in signing former Yeovil captain Jake Wannell & highly regarded Dom Bernard from Weston Super Mare. Add in two goalkeepers in Toby Savin & Zak Baker who should both keep each other on their toes and promising talent in Sean Robertson, Kian Jenkins & Tyler Hill added to a squad alongside Jordan Young, Cody Cooke, Louis Dennis & Sam Dreyer, it seems like we have plenty of versatility within our ranks and hopefully not experience the farce of having only 12 fit players available like we did at times last season.

Pre-Season Review:

Defeats to both Plymouth sides in Argyle & Parkway but victories in the rest which involved a mix of local sides, a feisty victory over Exeter and a demolishing of Cardiff’s U21s. Jimmy has made it clear that he doesn’t focus on results in pre-season and highlights how it’s all about ensuring we are match fit ready for the start of the season. I only saw the Parkway defeat where we looked disjointed but like Jimmy has reinforced, I only view pre-season as a fitness exercise.

Season Expectations:

I feel like I say it every start to the season, but now under Jimmy, I truly believe we are in for a really good season. I hope that we can challenge for the title which many of the bookmakers have us down as surprising clear favourites at the time of writing. Whether it’s winning the division, or winning the play-offs, a club our size and with its fanbase needs to get promoted this season. I hope we can do so this season, but as ever, it will be extremely difficult. In Jimmy we trust!

Predicted league finish:

1st. I think it’s finally our time to shine. Don’t shoot me down if I’m wrong though!